A Very Short Post About Very Cool Things!

First Cool Thing: I got the coolest email from a reader of my blog with a picture attached. Seriously made my day forever and ever and ever. Kelley, you rock and I am so thankful for teachers like you that are so passionate and think outside the box!

“Subject line: Thanks for the inspiration.

I have been following your blog for a while now and really enjoy your post-it note reviews. On the spur of the moment today I decided to have my students in two classes write post-it note reviews for Macbeth and then if they wanted to write another (or several) for extra credit they could. What I envisioned to be a 10 minute exercise turned in to a whole class period. The picture is poor quality but it does show how much they got into this idea. They asked if we could keep this up and see how much of the room can by covered by the end of May. I am going to have to find some stickier post-its.”

Moral of the story: Never, ever underestimate yourself. You are contributing to life in ways you don’t even realize. And never EVER underestimate the power of taking the time out of your day to thank someone or tell them how they’ve inspired you or encouraged you. Sometimes people don’t know and it will make their day.

Second Cool Thing:

This here blog has been nominated for Best Overall Blog and Most Creative Blog as part of an online conference for book bloggers. I’m so humbled and honored that someone thought about my blog enough to take the time to fill out the form with my name. I don’t in any way think I’m the best blog EVER (let’s be real — my reviews are not eloquent, I write about my butt and not throwing up in the car while reading and do silly things like dates inspired by books or show you what a neurotic crazypants I am) but I do try to always be authentically myself and bring creative things to the table. I’ve been feeling creatively stifled lately so this made my day. VOTING is open now and the links to the two awards will bring you to the awards where it literally only takes ONE click to vote. There are so many other worthy nominations but if you feel like this blog fits the bill for you…I’d so appreciate your nod of support. Also Top Ten Tuesday (the meme I created at my other blog The Broke and the Bookish was nominated too for Best Meme!)

Jamie is a 30 year old married lady who is in denial that she's actually that old. When she's not reading you can find her doing Pilates followed by eating ice cream, listening to music with oversized headphones and having adventures with her husband and dog.

That email and picture from that teacher is so inspiring! Way to go, Jamie! Its a wonderful thing when you’ve been such an inspiration for someone to turn around and light a fire in another generation!

And congrats on the nominations! I went and voted for you and your other blog just now – good luck! =)

I use postit notes all the time with my students, but never for summary/review. This will be a great way to teach concision and get students to cut down on plot summary in their essays. Is it can’t fit on a post it not, it’s too long!

That message from that teacher was so nice! The little things make the hard times so much cooler. As for me, I’m getting closer to graduation (yay! grad school!), I’m starting a new blog after a fall out at my last one, and I’ve started to come out of my shell (hence me commenting/pestering you more. YAY! YOU!)

I love that you’re not eloquent. I think eloquence is overrated. You amuse us and some of us aspire to flail as much as you do in our posts 🙂 I think more posts like yours are needed – less analyzing, more feeling. Congrats!

What a sweet email from the teacher! It’s really funny how the littlest thing can have such an impact–both your post-it review and her email. I hope her students are able to cover most of her room by the end of the year.